LISTENING to the eardrum- assailing cacophony of screams which fill the Empire at their every move, it’s difficult to believe that JLS didn’t win X Factor by a landslide.

There’s no doubting the phenomenal popularity of Britain’s favourite new boyband and it’s not hard to see their appeal. The four – Oritse, Marvin, JB and Aston (he’s the pretty little one) – have highly polished showman style.

And their music’s not bad either. In fact, although they’ve only got three singles under their belts to date, they’ve actually notched up more award nominations. Last year there were two MOBOs and this week sees them vying for two Brits, in the Best Single and Best Breakthrough Act categories.

The sold-out Empire show was packed mostly with over-excited females ranging from teen to probably should know better, although there were quite a few boys too, so obviously JLS’s slick urban pop gives them a credibility beyond their obvious heartthrob status.

Every one seemed to have a favourite, although on balance Aston probably won on the scream-ometer.

Having opened their set with a couple of album tracks, Private and Heartbreak, the boys began their charm offensive in earnest.

“Our tour manager’s from Liverpool and he said there was going to be a lot of screaming and the sexiest girls we’ve ever seen,” Aston informed a now hysterical crowd.

But to be honest, they were already hooked and the flirting – which came thick and fast, along with pumped-up six-pack flashing – was only an added bonus. Beat Again, the band’s debut single, won them 2,000 enthusiastic backing singers and loud appreciation for Aston’s acrobatics, before it was time to slow down for a romantic segment. This included a cover of Boyz II Men’s If I Ever, a reminder that JLS probably owe plenty to the Boyz – and the Backstreet Boys.

A Jacko medley showcased each of their individual singing talents, although in truth it’s together, especially harmonising on ballads, that they really shine. The naughty Only Making Love has single written all over it, but it was an encore of their second release Everybody In Love which brought the audience to a wild finale.

“Happy Valentine’s Day, has anybody fallen in love tonight?” they teased. About 1,800 at least, at a rough guess.